The Hilton Kingston Hotel, based in the financial district of New Kingston, has filed a lawsuit against
the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and its president, Captain Horace Burrell, for over $1 million
it says is owed by the Federation.

On receipt of the court documents yesterday, Burrell said he was jolted by the claim suit filed in the
Supreme Court by the hotel to recover the aforementioned sum apparently incurred by the previous
JFF administration led by Crenston Boxhill.

The claim form, dated December 17 and filed on behalf of Ocean Chimo Limited T/A Hilton Kingston
Hotel by law firm Bishop and Fullerton, singled out Burrell as the defendant as he is deemed "the
representative of the Jamaica Football Federation".

Burrell, speaking from his New Kingston offices yesterday, lambasted the previous administration
"for the mess" - another in a string of foul-ups that characterised Boxhill's stint at the head of the
nation's football. "This is as a result of yet another piece of the incompetence and ineptitude that
represented the previous administration," Burrell added.

According the claimant, Burrell, being the principal representative of the JFF, was being held liable for
what it called "breach of its contract" with the defendant for a function held on the premises of the
Hilton Kingston Hotel on the "6th and 7th of September 6, 2006".

It was not immediately clear yesterday the nature of the function, but the claimant was clear that it
was seeking to recover $1,006,966.69 on an "outstanding balance" arising from the function in question.
In addition to the "outstanding balance", the papers filed in the claim suit will be seeking interest
pursuant to the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, costs, attorneys-at-law costs and
any further relief "this hounourable court deems just".

Burrell, who only began his second stint as JFF boss last November, expressed disappointment
that the hotel, with which the JFF has had a long working relationship over the years, decided to
go to the courts to settle a matter he suggested could have been otherwise addressed.

"Unfortunately, inspite of our recent discussions with the management of the Hilton Hotel, that entity
has decided to pursue this matter in the courts," he lamented.

Burrell, who also is senior vice-president and Executive Committee member of CONCACAF, said
only a few days ago the JFF engaged the hotel in negotiations with the possibility of hosting the Costa
Rica national senior football team which is scheduled to play Jamaica's Reggae Boyz in a friendly
international on February 6.

"Only this week we negotiated for the Costa Rica national team to board at the Hilton during their stay
for the upcoming friendly international. I'm extremely disappointed with their decision," he noted.

Efforts to get a comment from the Hilton Kingston Hotel yesterday proved futile, but a female telephone
operator claimed that "no one is here at the moment who would be in a position to respond to your
questions, therefore, the hotel has no comment".